Atomic structure and passivated nature of the Se-treated GaAs(111)B surface

We have systematically studied the atomic structure and electronic properties of the Se-treated GaAs(111)B surface using scanning tunneling microscopy, reflection high-energy electron diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and first-principles calculations. We have found that Se atoms substitute 3/4 monolayer of As atoms at the outermost layer of the ideal (111)B surface. Charge transfer from Se to As eliminates all of unsaturated dangling bonds, so that the surface is electronically stabilized, leaving no surface states in the mid-gap region

Clinical outcome of tapered wedge stem

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results and intraoperative or postoperative complications of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a contemporary tapered wedge titanium femoral component. A total of 213 THAs in 187 patients were followed up more than 5 years (mean, 102 months ; range, 60-150). The mean age at surgery was 64.2 years (range, 20–89 years). These patients were clinically evaluated using the JOA scoring system and radiographically host bone reactions around the implants, as well as femoral loosening. The mean JOA score improved from 49 (range, 21–75) to 92 (range, 59–100). All 12 patients with poor results (JOA < 75) coexisted with cerebral, spinal, joint, and musculoskeletal disorders. At the final follow-up, implant survival was 100%. Complications occurred in 23 hips. They consisted of 12 hips with intra-operative fractures, 2 hips with sciatic nerve palsy, one hip with infections, 3 hips with recurrent dislocations, and 8 hips with aseptic cup loosening. In conclusion, we have shown excellent survival rate of the contemporary tapered wedge stem in primary THA ; however, patients with coexisting diseases could not acquire sufficient improvement in hip function and ambulatory ability

Do calcineurin inhibitors influence the serum concentrations of mizoribine?

Background: Mizoribine (MZR) is an antimetabolite that inhibits inosine-monophosphate dehydrogenase and has been used for preventing rejection in renal transplantation. However, the effect of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) on the pharmacokinetics of MZR has not been shown. This study was performed to show the influence of CNIs (tacrolimus [Tac] or cyclosporine [CyA]) on the serum concentration of MZR.Methods: Thirty-four living-donor renal transplant recipients administered a four-drug immunosuppressive therapy regimen (steroid, CNIs, basiliximab and MZR 6 mg/kg/day) were investigated. 20 recipients were treated with Tac and 14 were with CyA. Serum concentrations of MZR were obtained retrospectively at 464 points and at 243 points for each. Population pharmacokinetic (PPK) analysis was used to make pharmacokinetic models of serum MZR. After statistically evaluating the correlation of the pharmacokinetic models with the actual data, areas under the curves (AUCs) of each CNI were also estimated in these models and statistically evaluated.Results: The mean values of the PPK parameters (absorption lag time, absorption rate constant [Ka], apparent volume of distribution [V/F] and oral clearance of MZR [CLMZR/F]) were 0.600 hr and 0.643 hr, 1.14/hr and 0.911/hr, 0.732×body weight (WT) (L) and 0.784×WT (L), and 1.64×creatinine clearance (CLcr) (L/hr) and 1.81×CLcr (L/hr), respectively. Moreover, the serum concentrations of MZR at all-time points were estimated with these parameters. The correlation coefficients between the individual actual and estimated serum concentrations of MZR in the Tac group and the CyA group were 0.988 and 0.992, respectively. The average value of the AUCs of MZR corrected by the CLcr in the Tac group, and the CyA group were 0.61±0.21 and 0.55±0.19 (average value±standard deviation) for each (p=0.19).Conclusion: These findings suggest the pharmacokinetics of MZR were well-described by 1-compartment model with first-order absorption. Moreover, concomitant use of CNIs, e.g., Tac and CyA, may have no significant influence on the pharmacokinetics of MZR

Microstitching interferometer and relative angle determinable stitching interferometer for half-meter-long X-ray mirror

Haruhiko Ohashi, Takashi Tsumura, Hiromi Okada, Hidekazu Mimura, Tatsuhiko Masunaga, Yasunori Senba, Shunji Goto, Kazuto Yamauchi, and Tetsuya Ishikawa "Microstitching interferometer and relative angle determinable stitching interferometer for half-meter-long x-ray mirror", Proc. SPIE 6704, Advances in Metrology for X-Ray and EUV Optics II, 670405 (1 October 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.733476

Results of x-ray mirror round-robin metrology measurements at the APS, ESRF, and SPring-8 optical metrology laboratories

This paper presents the first series of round-robin metrology measurements of x-ray mirrors organized at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) in the USA, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France, and the Super Photon Ring (SPring-8) (in a collaboration with Osaka University,) in Japan. This work is part of the three institutions' three-way agreement to promote a direct exchange of research information and experience amongst their specialists. The purpose of the metrology round robin is to compare the performance and limitations of the instrumentation used at the optical metrology laboratories of these facilities and to set the basis for establishing guidelines and procedures to accurately perform the measurements. The optics used in the measurements were selected to reflect typical, as well as state of the art, in mirror fabrication. The first series of the round robin measurements focuses on flat and cylindrical mirrors with varying sizes and quality. Three mirrors (two flats and one cylinder) were successively measured using long trace profilers. Although the three facilities' LTPs are of different design, the measurements were found to be in excellent agreement. The maximum discrepancy of the rms slope error values is 0.1 μrad, that of the rms shape error was 3 nm, and they all relate to the measurement of the cylindrical mirror. The next round-robin measurements will deal with elliptical and spherical optics.Lahsen Assoufid, Amparo Rommeveaux, Haruhiko Ohashi, Kazuto Yamauchi, Hidekazu Mimura, Jun Qian, Olivier Hignette, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Christian Morawe, Albert Macrander, Ali Khounsary, and Shunji Goto "Results of x-ray mirror round-robin metrology measurements at the APS, ESRF, and SPring-8 optical metrology laboratories", Proc. SPIE 5921, Advances in Metrology for X-Ray and EUV Optics, 59210J (16 September 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.623209.Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United State

Cholecalciferol Supplementation Attenuates Bone Loss in Incident Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Prespecified Secondary Endpoint Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Vitamin D deficiency, persistent hyperparathyroidism, and bone loss are common after kidney transplantation (KTx). However, limited evidence exists regarding the effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bone loss after KTx. In this prespecified secondary endpoint analysis of a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated changes in PTH, bone metabolic markers, and bone mineral density (BMD). At 1 month post-transplant, we randomized 193 patients to an 11-month intervention with cholecalciferol (4000 IU/d) or placebo. The median baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level was 10 ng/mL and 44% of participants had osteopenia or osteoporosis. At the end of the study, the median 25(OH)D level was increased to 40 ng/mL in the cholecalciferol group and substantially unchanged in the placebo group. Compared with placebo, cholecalciferol significantly reduced whole PTH concentrations (between-group difference of −15%; 95% confidence interval [CI] −25 to −3), with greater treatment effects in subgroups with lower 25(OH)D, lower serum calcium, or higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (pint < 0.05). The percent change in lumbar spine (LS) BMD from before KTx to 12 months post-transplant was −0.2% (95% CI −1.4 to 0.9) in the cholecalciferol group and −1.9% (95% CI −3.0 to −0.8) in the placebo group, with a significant between-group difference (1.7%; 95% CI 0.1 to 3.3). The beneficial effect of cholecalciferol on LS BMD was prominent in patients with low bone mass pint < 0.05). Changes in serum calcium, phosphate, bone metabolic markers, and BMD at the distal radius were not different between groups. In mediation analyses, change in whole PTH levels explained 39% of treatment effects on BMD change. In conclusion, 4000 IU/d cholecalciferol significantly reduced PTH levels and attenuated LS BMD loss after KTx. This regimen has the potential to eliminate vitamin D deficiency and provides beneficial effects on bone health even under glucocorticoid treatment. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).Tsujita M., Doi Y., Obi Y., et al. Cholecalciferol Supplementation Attenuates Bone Loss in Incident Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Prespecified Secondary Endpoint Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 37, 303 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4469

Treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism focusing on parathyroidectomy

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a major problem for patients with chronic kidney disease and can cause many complications, including osteodystrophy, fractures, and cardiovascular diseases. Treatment for SHPT has changed radically with the advent of calcimimetics; however, parathyroidectomy (PTx) remains one of the most important treatments. For successful PTx, removing all parathyroid glands (PTGs) without complications is essential to prevent persistent or recurrent SHPT. Preoperative imaging studies for the localization of PTGs, such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy, and intraoperative evaluation methods to confirm the removal of all PTGs, including, intraoperative intact parathyroid hormone monitoring and frozen section diagnosis, are useful. Functional and anatomical preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerves can be confirmed via intraoperative nerve monitoring. Total or subtotal PTx with or without transcervical thymectomy and autotransplantation can also be performed. Appropriate operative methods for PTx should be selected according to the patients’ need for kidney transplantation. In the case of persistent or recurrent SHPT after the initial PTx, localization of the causative PTGs with autotransplantation is challenging as causative PTGs can exist in the neck, mediastinum, or autotransplanted areas. Additionally, the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of calcimimetics and PTx are increasingly being discussed. In this review, medical and surgical treatments for SHPT are described

The effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on allograft function in incident kidney transplant recipients: A randomized controlled study

It is unknown whether cholecalciferol supplementation improves allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We conducted a single-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of daily 4000 IU cholecalciferol supplementation in KTRs at 1-month posttransplant. The primary endpoint was the change in eGFR from baseline to 12-month posttransplant. Secondary endpoints included severity of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) at 12-month posttransplant and changes in urinary biomarkers. Of 193 randomized patients, 180 participants completed the study. Changes in eGFR were 1.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI; −0.7 to 3.1) in the cholecalciferol group and 1.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, −0.02 to 3.7) in the placebo group, with no significant between-group difference (−0.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 [95% CI; −3.3 to 2.0], p = 0.63). Subgroup analyses showed detrimental effects of cholecalciferol in patients with eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (Pinteraction <0.05, between-group difference; −4.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 [95% CI; −7.3 to −1.3]). The degree of IFTA, changes in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or adverse events including hypercalcemia and infections requiring hospitalization did not differ between groups. In conclusion, cholecalciferol supplementation did not affect eGFR change compared to placebo among incident KTRs. These findings do not support cholecalciferol supplementation for improving allograft function in incident KTRs. Clinical trial registry: This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) as UMIN000020597 (please refer to the links below). UMIN-CTR: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000023776.Doi Y., Tsujita M., Hamano T., et al. The effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on allograft function in incident kidney transplant recipients: A randomized controlled study. American Journal of Transplantation 21, 3043 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.16530